Intereal-combttstigli



H. KAWATE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-I5, I919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Y L wm QI NQ/ W an \WW NW WHIQ NW N I SN H &

luumdoz fllroza /fiqwnns H. KAWATE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ROTARY ENGINE.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-15,1919.

- Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

auuamtoq H. KAWATE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ROTARY ENGINE. I

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 15, 1919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- H. KAWATE.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED $291.15. 1919.

1,358,450. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Mg W WOW/u piston HIYOZO KAWATEI, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTIGN ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed September 15, 1919. Serial No. 323,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Hryozo KAwr-rrn, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, and resi dent of the cityof Seattle, county of King, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lnternaLC/ombustion Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to rotary engines, and more particularly to a rotary, internal combustion engine, wherein a series of.

rotors operate revolubly within an oppositely rotatable casing, under the driving I combustion of fuel charges that are admitted into the explosion chambers, ignited, and discharged in proper sequence to cause rotation of a power transmission shaft.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an engine of this character comprising such novel features of construction in the rotors and their casing and in the mechanism whereby fuel charges are admitted into and discharged from the combustion chambers of the engine, together with means for maintaining the circulation of a cooling medium and lubricant about the operating parts that an efficient and reliable engine is provided.

t is also an object of the invention to provide for reverse driving of the power shaft through the intermediacy of a novel clutch mechanism that is automatically adjustable, resultant to the setting of certain brake bands, for individually controlling rotation of the rotors or the casing, whereby, when either the rotors or casing, which operate in opposite directions. are held against rotation, the one that free to rotate will drive the power shaft in a like direction v In accomplishing these objects I have provided improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken centrally through an engine embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section of the same, on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a reduced view, illustrating the manner in which the supply chamber piston is moved inwardly to transfer a fuel charge to the outer side thereof.

4 is a similar view illustrating the relation of the rotor piston, the chamber and abutment in the explosion chamber immediately after the rotor piston has dropped from the abutment.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the engine showmg the connection of the fuel inlet and eX- haust pipes, the wate 1 circulation pipes and lubricant conduit with the statiohary end plate.

Fig. 6 is a detail face view of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 7 an enlarged sectional view of a part of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a rotor piston.

Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the some.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a two piston engine equipped with three explosion chambers.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view, illus tratlng the mounting of the annular ring whereby electrical connection is provided between one terminal of the induction coil to the current supply wire.

Referring more in detail to the draw- 1ngs l designates an axial power transmission shaft which may be revolubly mounted in any suitable supporting members, as by the standards 10, to permit proper operation and support of the parts carried thereby and whereon a pulley 11, or other means, may be mounted to make possible the transmission of power therefrom.

Revolubly mounted on the shaft 1 are a plurality of circular rotors 12 which rotate as a unit and are secured relative to each other by tie bolts 13 extended therethii'ough. These rotors operate within an exterior rotor casing let, cylindrical in form, and of sufliciently greater diameter than the rotors, that annular combustion chambers 15 are provided within the casing, the expiosion chambers for the individual rotors being separated by annular division plate 16 which seats at the inner periphery within an annular groove 17 provided between the rotor sections and at its outer edge is securely bolted to the casing.

The casing 14 is independent of the rotors and may revolve freely on the shaft 1 in a direction opposite to the direction of the rotors. At one end it has an extension 18 wherein a clutch mechanism, presently described, is located to effect the transmission of power from the casing or rotors to the shaft 1. The outer one of the connected rotors 12 is provided on the face opposite and the rotors are left free to turn, then,

combustion 'of fuel within the explosion chamber, will drive the rotors, while, if the order of setting the brakes is reversed, the casing will be driven in a direction opposite to that in which the rotors operate.

Since an engine of this character may comprise any desirable number of rotors and parts operating in conpmction therewith, all of which wouldbeidentical in construction and operation, only one of the rotors will be'described herein in detail, with the understanding that the description relates equally to all employed. 7

Located within each annular explosion chamber 15 is an abutment or head 30, preferably formed integral with the casing, and

which for a short distance entirely closes the chamber. At one side this abutment has an inclined surface 31, extending from the outer casing Wall to'the periphery of the rotor and at its opposite end has a perpendicular wall or abutment 32 which serves in opposed relation to and in conjunction with a piston 4, which mounted in the rotor 12, as presently described, to form an inclosure of relatively small volume wherein fuel charges are exploded to effect operation of the engine.

\Vithin the body of each rotor is a fuel storage'chamber 40 which at its inner side has a channel 41 opening thereinto that opens at all times at its opposite endwithin an annular channel 42 in a disk or end face plate 43 at one end of the engine; the plate 43 being free fromthe shaft 1 and rotor, and is held in position within the annular endcflange 20 by means of exhaust and fuel inlet pipes connected therewith, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. Fuel is admitted from a source of supply (not shown) into the storage chamber 40 through a supply conduit 45, which supplies two distributing conduits 46, Fig. 5, that discharge into the annular channel 42. The channel 42 is concentrically arranged with respect to the rotor so that there is continu- 'ous communication with the channel 41.

From the annular channel 42 the fuel enters. the channel '41 and is drawn'by suction into thechamber 40 through a spring-closed valve 47,1ocated at the outlet of the channel to prevent any'back flow trfu el.

Land, opening into the chamber and adapted Operating within the chamber 40 toward and from the valve 47 is a piston 48 which at all times is yieldingly urged outwardly by a pair of compression springs 49 mounted within guide tubes 50, which at their outer ends are fixed to the piston and at their inner ends slide within bores 51 within the body of the rotor.

The piston 48 has a spring-closed valve 52 therein through which fuel may pass as the piston moves inwardly, and at the outer side of the chamber is a passage 53 having a valve 54 therein through which the fuel is forced from the chamber 40 into the explosion chamber 15 as the piston moves outwardly. Operation of the piston 48 is accomplished as the rotor or casing rotates, through the intermediacy of the piston 4; the latter being 'slidably mounted within the rotor on a radial line through its center and fitting at its outer end between the walls of the coinbustion chamber and against the outer casing wall in close contact to prevent leakage.

The piston 4 is urged outwardly by means of a coiled spring 55, Fig. 2, which operates within a guide tube 56, that is fixed to the piston 48 and is slidable within a bore 57 in the piston 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 2, which in the order named show successive positions of the chamber and rotor pistons during a cycle of the engine, it will be noted that as the rotor rotates, the outer end of the piston 4 travels up the inclined face 31 of the head 30, causing the piston 48 to be forced inwardly against pressure of the springs 49, causing a fuel charge that had previously been drawn into the chamber 40 to be forced through the valve 52 to the opposite side of the piston. As the rotor continues to move forwardly, the piston 4 passes from the head 30, thereby releasing the piston 48, so that the latter moves under pressure of the springs 49 to discharge the fuel charge through the valved channel 53 and into the closed chamber formed between the head 30 and piston 4, where it is immediately ignited.

The charges of burned fuel are exhausted through a channel 58 in the rotor body; the channel having an enlarged end opening immediately forward of the piston 4 and a discharge end communicating, as does the fuel inlet passage, with an annular channel 59 in the face plate 43, whereto an exhaust conduit 59 is connected. It is apparent that exhaust fuel charges ahead of the piston 4 will be forced from the explosion chamber as the piston nears the head 30.

Fuel charges are ignited at the proper time by use of a spark plug, as indicated at 60, which is threaded into the wall of the passage 58, "and is electricallyconnected through a wire to the rotor body within insulated therefrom. The induction coil is supplied with electricity by circuit wires 62 and 63, which are connected thereto, as presently described.

The coil 61 consists of a primary and sec ondary winding and has one of the terminals of the primary winding extended through an insulated tube into rubbing contact with an annular ring 62", which is set within a groove 62" in the inner face of plate 43, and concentric with the shaft 1. i

This ring is insulated from the plate and is electrically connected with the circuit wire 62 as illustrated in Fig. 11.

The opposite terminal of the primary winding is insulated from the rotor body and is exposed in the face of the chamber 40. An insulated connection is mounted in the rotor body, with its opposite ends exposed at'the face of the rotor and at the bottom face of the storage chamber.

The circuit wire 63 is grounded to the engine casing and serves to complete the circuit through the coil 61only when the exposed ends of the terminal wire of the primary winding and the connection 65 are electrically joined. This is effected by a connecting member 66 that is carried by but insulated from the piston 48,'when th piston is at its outer limit and the outer end of the connection 65 has moved into engagement with the upper face of the head 30.

Since the induction coil and the terminal windings are all insulated from the rotor and engine casing, it is apparent that the spark plug; will be affected only when the ch 11 of the piston. This arrangement insures the complete exhaustion of a fuel charge from the storage chamber into the combustion chamber before ignition takes place and also insures that the explosion will take place at the proper time. p i a As the rotor is driven forwardly by the explosion of a charge acting against the rotor piston, a slight vacuum may be produced as the volume of the explosion chamber increases, and in order to avoid this I provide an inwardly opening valve 70 in the flat face 82 of the head wherethrough air may admitted from the exterior of the casing. Such admittance of air not only prevents retarding: the motor due to acuum pressure, but also aids combustion. to preven any possible leakage between the rotors, the casin and pistons, the same are provided. as is necessary, with packing strips or rings, '71, as shown 1n Figs. 1, 2,

8 and 9.

The piston provided with aroller 72 it is closed by the connecting member .threrutled portion which rolls within a seat at the outer end of the piston, to lessen friction as the pis ton moves in engagement with the casing wall and up the inclined surface or the head 1-10. The roller 72 contalns a sprlng winch bears against the inner ends of plug-like members inserted into the tubes to urge the same against the side caslng walls.

At its upper end the piston has laterally extending lugs 73, Figs. 2

adap ed to move within a cooperating}; air

' pociret 7a in the base of the chamber 4:0,so

that the piston is cushioned against jar or damage from hitting the casing wall.

The casing and rotor. are water acketed as shown. and circulation of a cooling medium is provided for by the connection of supply and discharge pipes 8 and 80, Fig. 5, respectively, which communicate with semicircular channels 6. 8l" in the plate 48; the said channelshaving a concentric arrangement with the rotors so that a plurality of passages 85, Fig. 1, will at all times conntnunicatc therewith. The passages 85 lead to the interior of the rotors and are there provided with branch passages 86 which lead to the water ehambers'of the rotors and with openings 87,'which are adapted to pass in registration with a large number of passages 88, Fig. 2, which lead through the plate 16 to the water chambers of the casing. Circulation maybe forced by means of a pump or may depend on the atural c rculation of heated water.

and 9 which are ill moving parts are likewise lubricated througg h channels as shown 89 Fig. l, which communicate with an annular channel 90 in the plate 43, to which a lubricant supply pipe 91 is connected.

Located within the extension 18 at the end of the'casing, is a clutch mechanism, Figs. 1, 6 and 7', comprising a spool 9 which is keyed to the shaftl. and whichhas opposite end flanges 92-492 and an intermediate 93 whereon a ring 94 is threznled and which is adapted to be moved laterally in oppositedirections a limited distance. p p

Fixed to the face of the rotor 12 adjacent the spool 9 is a plate 5 which moves with the rotor but free from the casing. The plate Inclosingthe spool hub on opposite sides of the ring 94 are a plurality of annular disks 98 which are alternately locked against rotation relative to the spool, but which have a limited lateral movement.

Abutting the opposite faces of the ring 94,

are plates 99-99, which are of sufiiciently greater diameter than the disks 98, that they interlock with the ribs 96 and that a number of coil springs 100,- located within the space about the disks, may bear there'against.

. The springs which engage the plate 99 hear at their outer ends against theen'd plate 18 of the casing and those which engage the plate 99 bear at their outer. ends against the plate 5.

- VVith the engine so constructed, the operation will be as follows: assuming first that A the brake band 24 is tightened to retain the housing 14 against rotation and that the rotors are free to rotate. As the piston 4 rides up the inclined face 31 of the head 80, the: piston 48 will be moved inwardly I .aga'instthe base of the chamber 40. As the fwill cause fuel, to be. drawn through the piston 4 drops from the head 32, the springs 49 actuate the piston 48 outwardly, which supply, conduits 45, 46, 42 and 41,- and valve 47,,to fill the chamber 40. 'A successive operation of the pistons advances this charge through the piston valve 52 to the opposite side of the piston 48 and then through the passage 53 into the explosion' chamber 15, where it is ignited, as previously described. 7

As the rotors continue to rotate, pressure vof the springs 100 against the plate 99,

which engagesthe-ring 94, retains the latter against rotation, so that it travels inwardly along the threads and compresses the disks on the inner side. of the ring tightly together in frictional locking engagement, so that the plate 5'is thereby locked relative to the spool 9'and the latter, being locked to the shaft 1, causes the shaft to be driven in the direction of the rotors.

.To' reverse" this driving direction, the

brakeband'24 is loosened and theband .and easing extension, so that the shaft is driven in the direction of the casing.

In Fig. 10.1 have illustrated an'engine wherein the rotors 'are' provided with two pistons diametrically arranged with respect .to the rotor and which operateover three abutments. 'Such .an arrangement provides six explosions during each revolution, thereby creating, a very great amount of power.

7 While I have only shown an engine of two rotors, it isapparentthat any desired number of rotors may be employed by extending f'the casing accordingly, and I do not wlsh to be limited to the exact} construction shown, as it is possible to make 'variatipnsiwlthout departing from the spirit'of the invention.

I' claim:

1. In a rotary internal combustion engine, in combination, a power transmission shaft, a rotor revolubly mounted on said shaft, a casing for the rotor revoluble on the shaft and forming an annular combustion chamber, an abutment in said chamber, a radially movable rotor piston operable over said abutment, means for admitting and discharging fuel charges into and from the explosion chamber, brake means for selectively retaining the rotors or casing against rotation, and automatically adjustable clutch mechanism for effecting a driving conncction between the shaft and rotating member.

2. In a rotary internal combustion engine, in combustion, a rotor, a casing for the rotor forming an annular explosion chamber, an abutment in the chamber having an inclined face, a radially movable piston operable over said. piston, said rotor having a storage chamber provided with fuel inlet and discharge passages, a valved piston operable inwardly in said chamber by the radial movement of said rotor piston and outwardly by compression members to advance fuel charges into the explosion chamber and a yieldable means for retaining the pistons at their outer limits.

3. In a rotary internal combustion engine, in combination, a power transmission shaft, a rotor revolubly mounted on said shaft, a .casing for the rotor revoluble on the shaft and forming an annular combustion chamber, an abutment in the chamber having an inclined face, a radially movable piston operable over said abutment, said rotor having a storage chamber provided with fuel inlet and discharge passages, a valved piston operable inwardly in said chamber by the radial movement of said rotor piston and outwardly by compression members to advance fuel charges into the explosion chamber, yieldable means for retaining the pistons at their outer limits, brake means for selectively retaining the rotors or casing against rotation, and automatically adjustable clutch mechanism for effecting a driving connection between the shaft and rotating member.

4. In a rotary internal combustion engine in combination, a rotor, a casing for the rotor forming an annular combustion chamber thereabout, an abutment in said chamher. a radia ly movable piston mounted in said rotor and operable in said chamber over said abutment; said rotor having fuel inlet and exhaust passages therein opening into the explosion chamber adjacent opposite sides of said piston and opening at their opposite ends to an end face of the rotor, a non-rotatable member fitted against the end of said rotor having annular channels therein continuously in communication with said discharge and inlet passages as the rotor rotates and means for admitting and discharging fuel charges into said an nular channels.

5. In a rotary internal combustion engine in combination, a rotory, a casing for the rotor forming an annular combustion chamber, a radially movable rotor piston operable within said chamber and over said abutment; said rotor having a fuel storage chamber therein, a suction piston operable in said chamber and having an outwardly opening valve; said suction having a fuel inlet passage opening thereinto at one side of the piston and having an outlet passa e at the opposite side of said piston, said suction piston bein operable inwardly by radial movement 0 said rotor piston and yieldable members mounted Within said r0- tor for urging said chamber and rotor pistons outwardly.

6. In a rotary internal combustion engine in combination a rotor, a casing for the rotor forming an annular combustion chamber, a radially movable rotor piston operable within said chamber and over said abutment; said rotor having a fuel storage chamber therein, a suction piston operable in said chamber and having an outwardly opening valve; said chamber having fuel inlet and discharge passages leading therefrom at opposite sides of the piston, outwardly opening valves in said passages; said suction piston being actuated inwardly by radial movement of the rotor piston as the latter engages the abutment, yieldable members mounted in said rotor to urge said suction piston outwardly and separte members mounted in said rotor piston engageable with the suction piston to urge the rotor piston outwardly in advance of the suction piston and a cushioning means for retarding movement of the rotor piston.

7. In a rotary internal combustion engine, in combination, a rotor having a fuel stor age chamber therein and having valved inlet and outlet passages communicating with said chamber, a rotor casing forming an annular combustion chamber, an abutment in said combustion chamber having an inclined face, a radially movable rotor piston operable in said combustion chamber over said abutment, an inwardly yieldable suction piston in said fuel storage chamber operable under influence of the radially movable rotor piston to intake and discharge fuel charges from the storage chamber into the combustion chamber, an electric sparking device for igniting fuel charges in the combustion chamber and a contact member on the suction piston for closing a circuit through the sparking device.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, U. S. A., this 9th day of September, 1919.

HIYOZO KAWATE. 

